Three Thoughts and a gif: Sporting KC drops big match to D.C. United

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SKC's Jon Kempin sits in frustration after giving up a second goal at the 28 minute mark as Matt Besler goes to retrieve the ball at the soccer match between Sporting KC and DC United at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas on August 23, 2014.
Andy LundbergSpecial to The Kansas City Star

After a fairly even opening 20 minutes, D.C. United opened up the scoring by beating KC’s high defensive line three times in less than 10 minutes. United was comfortable in absorbing pressure and kept Sporting grasping at chances for the last hour.

It’s a big statement win for United, currently the top dog in the Supporters’ Shield race. For Kansas City, it’s a game best filed away for further study, as United uncovered some issues that Vermes and his coaching staff will need to figure out.

Let’s delve into three talking points from the game.

1. KC’s home form is current home form is troubling

While you can make the excuse about KC’s travel and fatigue from the CONCACAF Champions League or off days for Graham Zusi/Matt Besler/Dom Dwyer/etc., it’s hard to wrap your head around this stat: Sporting KC is 5-2-6 at Sporting Park this year.

Last year, Kansas City struggled with its home form as well, but managed to get it sorted out come playoff time. It’ll need to do that again this year apparently.

Bad games happen from time to time — though, not usually or often at Sporting Park.

And, in the midfield, former Wizard Davy Arnaud and Perry Kitchen bottled up KC’s dynamic midfield of Graham Zusi and Benny Feilhaber with a smart application of pressure and physicality.

For good measure, goalkeeper Bill Hamid put in a comfortable and commanding performance to earn the shutout.

The word you’re looking for to describe this win: Comprehensive.

3. The danger of playing with a high line

A major facet of Kansas City’s high-pressure system is a high defensive line. It’s a risky defensive posture, as it often leaves acres of open space in front of the goalkeeper. Using it requires organization and understanding — all of which abandoned Kansas City in the first half.

Full credit to D.C. United and coach Ben Olsen, this team setup to play KC’s high-line perfectly. United made smart runs into the gaps and played KC’s aggressiveness against them.

This is United’s second goal.

Chris Rolfe — who, along with Fabian Espindola, must have viewed KC’s back line sorta like two lions stalking a herd of gazelles — times his run perfectly right between Igor Juliao and Aurelien Collin. When KC struggles to close down Luis Silva, Rolfe is off to the races with no one to slow him down.